Teaching Interdisciplinary Problem Solving Through Computer Technology

A Web Quest

An Examination:

the Implications of the U.S.A. Patriot Act on Our Constitutional Rights

The Patriot Act and Social Stereotyping

By Karen Tsoi

Karet22@aol.com

The High School for Contemporary Arts

INTRODUCTION:

After the tragedy of September 11^th on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, there has been a rise in concern about our public safety against future terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. More so today than ever before in U.S. history, the security and safety of American citizens is being jeopardized by terrorists and their deadly plans dedicated to destroying America and our way of life.

“Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act (the Act) in response to the terrorists’ attacks of September 11, 2001. The Act gives federal officials greater authority to track and intercept communications, both for law enforcement and foreign intelligence gathering purposes. It vests the Secretary of the Treasury with regulatory powers to combat corruption of U.S. financial institutions for foreign money laundering purposes. It seeks to further close our borders to foreign terrorists and to detain and remove those within our borders. It creates new crimes, new penalties, and new procedural efficiencies for use against domestic and international terrorists.”

-- “The USA PATRIOT Act: A Sketch” CRS Report for Congress April 18, 2002

Since the USA PATRIOT Act was passed on October 26, 2001, there has been a great debate about the merits of the bill. Supporters of the bill feel that it is necessary to “increase the surveillance and investigative powers of law enforcement agencies in the United States so that potential terrorist attacks can be prevented.” Opponents of the Patriot Act feel that “many parts of this sweeping legislation take away checks on law enforcement and threaten the very rights and freedoms that we are struggling to protect.”

You will be working on the council to the new Homeland Security Department investigating the merits of the USA Patriot Act and its possible infringements on our constitutional rights to privacy. You will evaluate the USA Patriot Act and determine its pros and cons. You will develop solutions and alternatives to the current Patriot Act to present at the upcoming Congressional meeting to resolve the discrepancies. This is your chance to voice your opinion about your civil liberties!

TASK:

Working in groups, you will produce a PowerPoint slideshow that will be presented to the members of Congress at the upcoming Congressional meeting in Washington, D.C. In order to successfully complete the task, you will have to do the following:

· Use the Public Policy Analyst (PPA) method to investigate the merits of the USA Patriot Act and its possible infringements on our constitutional rights to privacy;

· Evaluate the USA Patriot Act and determine its pros and cons;

· Develop possible solutions and/or alternatives to the current Patriot Act;

· Recommend alternative procedures the government can take to resolve the discrepancies of the Patriot Act’s infringement on citizen’s constitutional rights to privacy;

· Present a 3-5 minute oral presentation convincing Congress to support your new policy proposal

PROCESS:

Step 1: You will be assigned to groups of 2 or 3 to complete this task.

Step 2: Each group will research the potential benefits and/or pitfalls of the Patriot Act. Use the internet to find studies, statistics, articles and other research to determine what measures can be taken to improve current USA Patriot Act.

Step 3: Summarize your group’s research on the following six PPA worksheets:

A. Define the social problem (worksheet #1)

--Decide whether you support or oppose the merits of the USA Patriot Act and why:

B. Gather evidence (worksheet #2)

--Conduct research on the internet about the merits of the USA Patriot Act. Remember to check the credibility of the web site you are using (i.e.-Information found is from an accredited organization, authority on topic, governmental agency, and/or is the most up-to-date information available). Record the exact URL/ internet addresses of the web sites you use so that you can cite your sources in a bibliography at the end of your presentation.

C. Identify the cause(s) of the problem (worksheet #3)

--Based on your research, list at least 3 causes of the social problem.

D. Evaluate existing public policies (worksheet #4)

--Analyze existing U.S. government policies for handling national security. What is the U.S. government currently doing to resolve and prevent this social problem? Create a chart weighing the pros and cons of the current USA Patriot Act.

E. Develop your own public policy solution (worksheet #5)

--Brainstorm a variety of new solutions for handling the social problem. List various tactics the city can employ to improve on the current situation (minimum of 3).

A. Select the best public policy solution (worksheet #6)

--Evaluate your list of possible solutions based on feasibility (if your plan can actually be carried out by the city, for example—cultural acceptance and cost effective) and effectiveness (how likely and how well your plan will improve the social problem). Select the best solution and expand on the action steps needed to carry out the plan.

Step 4: Create a PowerPoint slideshow (with 8 slides minimum) to present your findings and new policy solution proposal. Create one slide for each PPA worksheet your group completed, summarizing your findings and highlighting important points. Use graphics (i.e. pictures, charts, etc.) to make your presentation visually appealing and more convincing.

Step 5: Prepare and deliver a 3-5 minute oral presentation to propose your group’s new public policy solution to Congress and the Homeland Security Committee.

You will use the tips public policy analyst worksheets as guidelines for your power point and oral presentation

RESOURCES:

Internet Search Engines—

Newspaper Articles Search—

Helpful Links about the USA Patriot Act and Current Public Policies—

“USA Patriot Act—The Good, the Bad, and the Sunset” by John Podesta

http://www.abanet.org/irr/hr/winter02/podesta.html

EPIC USA Patriot Act

http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/usapatriot/

The USA PATRIOT Act: Preserving Life and Liberty

http://www.lifeandliberty.gov/

American Civil Liberty Union (ACLU)

http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=12126&c=207

A Guide to the Patriot Act, Part 1—Should you be scared of the Patriot Act?

By Dahlia Lithwick and Julia Turner

http://slate.msn.com/id/2087984/

Is A Race War Imminent? by Timothy N. Stelly, Sr.

http://www.useless-knowledge.com/1234/jan/article456.html

“Gonzales supports assault weapon ban, full Patriot Act”

by Jesse J. Holland The Associated Press

http://www.theolympian.com/home/news/20050119/topstories/71509.shtml

“Losing Liberty: Due process – Patriot Act Heightens Assault on Civil Liberties: Anti-terrorism provisions build on precedents of the drug war to weaken the Fourth Amendment”

By The Detroit News

http://www.detnews.com/2003/editorial/0309/15/a10-270439.htm

Ashcroft: Nuke Threat the Largest Danger—By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Ashcroft-Interview.html?oref=login

NPR – Justice Dept. Lists Patriot Act Cases

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=3375005

The American Library Association—USA Patriot Act

http://www.ala.org/ala/oif/ifissues/usapatriotact.htm

Congressional Research Service – Library of Congress: Summary Report of Patriot Act

http://www.fas.org/irp/crs/RS21203.pdf

RUBRIC FOR EVALUATING PROJECT

CATEGORY	Excellent ~A~ 90-100 pts.	Above Average ~B~ 80-89 pts.	Below Average ~C~ 70-79 pts.	Unsatisfactory ~Redo~ 69 or less pts.	SCORE
Public Policy Analysis Worksheets	All 6 worksheets are completed; rationales for answers are clearly explained; *Accurately cites sources/references used in correct bibliographic format	All 6 worksheets are completed; rationales for answers are not fully explained; *Sources	1-2 worksheets are not fully completed; rationale for answers are unclear	3 or more worksheets are incomplete and/or missing; Does not explain rationales for answers and/or are unjustified *demonstrates a misunderstanding of the question(s)
PowerPoint Presentation	Fully developed and clearly presented material (8 or more slides); Exhibits advanced control of PowerPoint program; *Uses visually stimulating graphics to enhance presentation (8+)(moving pics, sound bites/music, transitions, etc.)	Clear display of material (8 slides); Exhibits control of PowerPoint program; *Uses stationary graphics throughout for effect (6-7)	Material is somewhat unclear (6-7 slides) some slides are missing Exhibit basic knowledge of Powerpoint program *Uses few images (4-6)	Material is unclear/confusing is missing 4 or more slides Demonstrates little or no knowledge of PowerPoint program Uses 2↓ images
Oral Presentation	Excellent speech with great eye contact	Adequate speech with some eye contact	Adequate speech but no eye contact	Inaudible speech and no eye contact
Collaborative Effort	It is evident that a mutual effort and cohesive unit created the final product.	The team worked well together, but could have utilized each other's skills to a better degree	The team had problems working together. Little collaboration occurred.	The final product is not the result of a collaborative effort. The group showed no evidence of collaboration.
Originality	The ideas expressed by the body of work demonstrate a high degree of originality.	The ideas expressed by the body of work are mostly original. The group may have improved upon a previous idea.	The ideas expressed by the body of work demonstrate a low degree of originality.	There were no original ideas expressed in this project.

You have learned the importance of being a “Public Policy Analyst”. Acts passed by Congress and the president need to be scrutinized to maintain a viable democratic society. The Patriot Act, as you have seen, addresses a definite social problem and threat to America. However, there is a thin line between preserving American security and protecting civil rights established under the

Constitution. The public policy analyst has a critical task in a democratic society. They must research pressing issues, create debate and rationally inform the American public so just decisions can be made. You have accomplished that task in this web quest.

We thank you for your participation.

You can make a difference

New York City Standards

New York State English Language Arts Standards

E1C Read and comprehend informational materials

E3B Participate in group meetings

E6A Critique public documents

E6B Produce public documents

E3D Make informed judgments about media

E4B Analyze and subsequently revise work

Applied Learning

A1A Design a product, service, or system

A2C Develop a multimedia presentation

A3A Gather information

A5A Self-directed work teams

New York State Social Studies Standards

1: History of (the United States and) New York

5: Civics, Citizenship, and Government

Ashcroft: Nuke Threat the Largest Danger—By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Ashcroft-Interview.html?oref=login

Ashcroft: Nuke Threat the Largest Danger—By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/national/AP-Ashcroft-Interview.html?oref=login